Operating assembly for load break switchgear



June 7, 1966 3,255,332

OPERATING ASSEMBLY FOR LOAD BREAK SWITCHGEAR T. E. CURTIS ETAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 17, 1964 INVENTORS. Thomas 5. Curr/s BY Mar/an ,4. Gab/70rd? M Q o %J flTTO/QNEYQ.

June 7, 1966 OPERATING Filed Feb. 1'7, 1964 T. E. CURTIS ETAL 3,255,332

ASSEMBLY FOR LOAD BREAK SWITCHGEAR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQRS. Thomas fl Curr/s BY Marion #7. 6ebhar'df OPERATING ASSEMBLY FOR LOAD BREAK SWITCHGEAR Filed Feb. 17, 1964 June 7, 1966 "r. E- CURTIS ETAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS. Thomas E. Cur'fie BY Mar/'00 0. Gab/70nd) WTTORNW United States Patent 3,255,332 OPERATING ASSEMBLY FOR LOAD BREAK SWITCHGEAR Thomas E. Curtis, Centralia, Mo., and Marion A. Gebhardt, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assignors to A. B. Chance Company, Centralia, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Feb. 17, 1964, SenNo. 345,276

13 Claims. (Cl. 200-146) This invention relates broadly to. the field of electrical transmission line equipment, and especially to sectionalizing switches of the load break type permitting maintenance of maximum service continuity in a transmission line.

The high voltages and currents present in electrical transmission lines present especial problems in the design of switches which will successfully interrupt the current when necessary, under all atmospheric conditions, and which may be operated many times without significant deterioration of the performance or operating condition of the components. While an air-break type switch is subject to severe limitations in opening loaded circuits, it has been found that utilization of a vacuum-break type load interrupter switch may be associated with an airbreak switch to make the load break device reliable for opening and closing various types of circuits regardless of the voltage and current load thereon. Switchgear em bodying this basic concept is described in detail in US. Patent No. 3,070,680, wherein a plurality of air-break switches are operably associated with a single vacuum type load interrupting switch thereby permitting most efficient sectionalizing of the transmission line as required with a minimum of switching assemblies being requred, and particularly the relatively expensive vacuum load break type.

load interrupter or similar switch device by the switch elements of the air-break main switches, and only after the components of the air-break switches have moved into disposition such that restrike thereacross is absolutely precluded regardless of climatic conditions or the operating load on the lines in which the switchgear is interposed.

A further important object of the invention is to provide load break switchgear wherein the mechanism for opening the vacuum or similar load interrupter structure and which is operable by the switch elements of the respective main air-break switches, requires the main switch elements to move out of effective restrike range before The switchgear disclosed in the aforementioned patent I includes a series of main air-break switches which are coupled to the main transmission lines as well as to a tap line, and with the single vacuum load breaker being operably positionable in series relationship with respect to any selected one of the main switches. In this manner, the power may be interrupted in any selected line by first opening the vacuum-break switch, followed by opening of the main switch, so that arcing between the contacts of the main air-break switch is precluded regardless of the load on the line.

Although a load break switch unit of the type mentioned above is satisfactory in operation under most conditions, it has been determined that equipment of the type described in the above patent is subject to certain power limitations, presents disadvantages in inclement weather and especially cold, icy conditions, and particularly was subject to possible restrike across the open gaps of the main switch elements under relatively high voltage applications.

As explained in pending application Serial No. 241,- 745, filed on December 3, 1962 and entitled Load Break Switch Gear, it is often desirable to employ a number of vacuum load break switches in series relationship in those instances where high voltages are involved, as for example, of the order of 69 and 115 kv. The switches are connected mechanically in such a manner that the contacts of all of the vacuum-break switches are opened substantially simultaneously, but under these operating parameters, it was found that there was a certain risk of restrike across the series connected main switch upon opening of the contacts thereof, particularly under adverse weather conditions.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide improvements in load break switchgear of the type described briefly above, and especially to provide improved mechanism for operating the vacuum type the contacts of the load interrupter are shifted out of electrical contacting relationship.

It is also a significant object of the invention to provide an improved load 'break switch assembly having the improved characteristics mentioned previously, which is of especial design permitting protection of the mechanical components thereof from adverse atmospheric conditions such as snow, freezing drizzle and ice, and thereby assuring proper operation of the switchgear regardless of the nature of the weather conditions and the ambient temperature at the time that the switch elements of the gear are operated.

Also an important aim of the invention is to provide load break switchgear having improvements therein over the assemblies described in the above referenced patent and application, which do not require extensive and prohibitively expensive redesign and retooling of the prior switches in order to incorporate the novel operating mechanism of the present invention into the switch assemblies.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide improved load break switchgear wherein effective opening of the load interrupting switches may be obtained utilizing essentially the same type of components, regardless of the number of load interrupting switches operably connected in series relationship, and requiring alteration of a minimum of operating elements to accomplish the required opening of the load interrupting structure after the components of the respective main switch have been moved into sufiiciently spaced relationship to absolutely preclude restrike thereacross.

Other important objects and details of the present invention will become apparent or be explained in greater detail as the following specification proceeds.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of load break switchgear embodying the improved operating components of the present invention, constructed in accordance with the general principles of the structure described in US. Patent No. 3,070,680, and with the switch elements of one of the main air-break switches, when in open disposition, being illustrated by dashed lines;

FIG.- 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational View of the load break switchgear shown in FIG. 1, and with the path of travel of one of the operating components for effecting opening of the load interrupting structure in response to shifting of the switch elements of one of the main switches, being illustrated in dashed lines;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, plan view of the upper part of the load interrupting structure as illustrated in FIG. 2, and showing the toggle mechanism for effecting opening of the load interrupting structure in re sponse to movement of the switch elements of one of the main switches into disposition wherein the elements are out of restrike range;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged, vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, end elevational view of the toggle mechanism as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view on a greatly enlarged scale, of operating arm structure adapted to be mounted on one of the elements of each of the main switches and adapted to swing an arm joined through linkage to the toggle mechanism for operating the load interrupting switch structure in response to swinging movement of the main switch element mounting the operating arm thereon;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 77 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the switching configuration of the present invention.

The basic load break and switching'operation of this invention is disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,070,680, and

application Serial No. 241,745, and the disclosures therein are incorporated herein by reference as they may be necessary for a complete understanding of the construction and general operation of the present switchgear. As is apparent from these prior disclosures, switchgear of this type operates in the following basic manner.

Referring to FIG. 8, the load break switchgear of the present invention is designated broadly by the numeral 20 and is adapted to be coupled to the three transmission lines 22, 24 and 26. Switchgear 20 includes three main switches 28, 30 and 32 which are operably associated with the vacuum load break interrupter unit designated 40. Three auxiliary switches 34, 36 and 38 are also operably associated with the main air-break switches 28, 30 and 32 as well as the load interrupter unit 40. The auxiliary switches function as transfer devices and close during the opening of the main switches to transfer the current path through the load interrupter. Although the unit 40 may be any one of a number of different types of switches, the preferred construction involves utilization of a vacuum-break switch of the type illustrated in Patent No. 3,070,680 or application Serial No. 241,745, with one or more of the switches actually being used depending upon the voltage on the transmission lines. It may be observed from FIG. 8 that when it is desired to maintain all of the lines 22, 24 and 26 in electrically conductive relationship, the main air-break switches 28, 30 and 32 are in closed disposition as illustrated in the schematic drawing. At the same time, the auxiliary switches 34, 36 and 38 are in the open position thereof while the load interrupter unit 40 is normally closed.

Assuming for purposes of illustration only that the transmission line 22 leads from a power station and that the lines 24 and 26 comprises either feeder lines leading to points of power consumption or distribution, or one line being the main distribution line while the other line is a secondary or feed line connected thereto, the status of the circuitry will be as shown in FIG. 8 when all of the lines are conductive as referred to above. Should it be desired, for example, to disconnect line 24 from line 22, then the various switches would operate in the following sequence:

(a) Mechanism under the control of an operator would be actuated to commence opening of the main switch 30.

(b) During opening of the main switch 30 but prior to the components thereof assuming the fully open position thereof wherein the electrical circuit therethrough is interrupted, electrical contacts would be brought into conducting relationship to result in closing of auxiliary switch 36. In the schematic diagram, the mechanical coupling between switches 30 and 36 is indicated by the dashed line 46. It may be seen that the closing of switch 36 creates a path for current from line 22 to line 24, through switch 28, interrupter 40 and switch 36. However, at this point in the operation of switchgear 20, a circuit still exists from line 22 through switch 28 and switch 30 to line 24. Thus, it is apparent that switches 30 and 36, when switch 36 is closed, form parallel paths for the flow of electrical current from line 22 to line 24, as well as being mechanically interconnested.

(c) Main switch 30 is then operated to move the contact elements thereof into the fully open position of the same whereby the auxiliary switch 36 then carries the full current through lines 22 and 24. A single current path is furnished between lines 22 and 24 by the closed contacts of the load interrupter 40.

(d) The movable contact 42 of interrupter unit 40 is then shifted out of engagement with the fixed contact 43 by mechanical structure which is actuated by one of the arms forming a part of the auxiliary switch 36, with interruption of the current through the unit 40 occurring only after the contact elements of the main switch 30 have been moved out of the restrike zone thereof.

It is now believed tobe fully apparent that switchgear 20 is to be utilized for interrupting the current through a plurality of transmission lines, even though only one vacuum type load break switch is provided for the plurality of airbreak main switches operably associated with each transmission line. In order to provide maximum versatility for switchgear 20, structure is provided to return the contact 42 of load interrupter unit 40 to the normal position thereof in engagement with contact 43 and to reopen the auxiliary switch 36 subsequent to breaking of the current path between lines 22 and 24. This causes all of the switch elements illustrated in FIG. 8 to return to the disposition thereof as shown in the schematic drawing, with the exception of switch 30 being in an open condition. In this manner, subsequent closure of main switch 30, or operation of other switches associated with the other lines, may be car-ried out without in any way interfering with the electrical nonconducting condition which exists between transmission lines 22 and 24.

The frame assembly 44 of switchgear 20 is illustrated as being of generally triangular configuration since it is adapted to mount three main switches 28, 30 and 32 in conjunction with three auxiliary switches 34, 36 and 38 and a single load interrupting unit therebetween, although it is to be appreciated that the frame will normally be of a configuration depending upon the number of switches actually forming a part of gear 20. The frame assembly 44 of switch gear 20 is adapted to be mounted through the medium of bracket 46 on any suitable supporting member such as a line pole or the like. It is also to be understood at the outset that three of the switchgear assemblies 20 are utilized in a three phase power system, each unit being operably coupled within a single phase. This principle is conventional in sectionalizing switchgear equipment with each sectionalizing switch often beng mounted one above the other on the line pole for operation from the ground through suitable remote control apparatus extending longitudinally of the pole.

Since all of the main air-break switches 28, 30 and 32 are of substantially identical construction, only switches 28 and 30 will be described in any detail, and it is to be understood that similar numbers would apply to similar elements in all of the main switches. Thus, as is apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the main switches is provided with an upright shaft (not shown) which is rotatably carried for pivoting about a vertical axis by insulator structure 48. Crank 50 operably coupled to the lower end of each of the operating shafts is adapted to be joined by suitable linkage (not shown) which extends toward the operating mechanism on the supporting pole, and permitting swinging of any one of the cranks 50 from a remote point at ground level.

The main switches each have a switch blade 53 provided with a contact tip 52 and secured to the upright shaft carried by a corresponding insulator 48. Each contact tip 52 is adapted to engage a jaw hinge contact 54 rotatably carried by a corresponding support member of frame assembly 44. The jaw hinge contacts are rotatably carried by a plate 56 which is in turn supported on frame 44 by suitable insulating structure 58 which is shown only fragment-arily in FIG. 2. The electrical circuit connections of the blade contacts and jaw hinges of main switches 28, 30 and 32 is believed to be clearly apparent in the schematic representation of FIG. 8. During rotation of a corresponding crank 50 to effect movement of the blades 53 and associated blade contact 52 of a respective main switch to the open position thereof, the jaw hinge normally gripping the blade contact 52 is rotated through an arc in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the blade contact 52, until the latter fully clears the jaw hinge, whereupon blade contact 52 then moves into the fully open positon thereof as represented by the dashed lines in FIG. 1. In this disposition of the blade contact, the latter is out of restrike range from the associated jaw hinge contact.

The interrupter unit 40 as illustrated in FIG. 2, includes three separate vacuum-break switches 60, 62 and 64 which are electrically coupled in series relationship and are connected to a common lead as is apparent from the schematic diagram of FIG. 8. One Way in which the contacts of these switches may be operably connected for substantially simultaneous opening, is explained in detail in the disclosure of application Serial No. 241,745 and therefore a detailed showing and description of these switches is omitted from this disclosure. The toggle mechanism for effecting operation of the uppermost movable contact of switch 60, and which elfects simultaneous shifting of the movable contacts of the other -vacuum-break switches 62 and 64, is best shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 inclusive, wherein the shiftable connector member 66 within housing 68 and extending through the bottom wall 70 thereof is connected directly to the movable contact of the uppermost switch 60'for reciprocating the movable contact in response to shifting of connector member 66. The toggle mechanism broadly designated 72 is mounted on a horizontal shaft 74 carried between upright supports 76 extending upwardly from wall 70. The main operating lever 78 of toggle mechanism 72 is pivotally joined to a boss 80 depending from a bell crank 82 pivotally mounted on an upright support 84 projecting upwardly from Wall 70 adjacent mechanism 72 as is apparent from FIG. 4. Shifting of lever 78 in response to swinging of crank 82 effects vertical reciprocation of connector member 66 through links 86 which are joined to a cross member 88. Springs 92 between shaft 74 and cross member 88 are normally extended, and the toggle linkage is just over toggle to hold the contacts of switches 60, 62 and 64 in the normally closed position. A detailed showing and explanation of the operation of toggle mechanism of the type shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 herein, is found in the drawings and description of application Serial No. 241,745.

' Mechanism for actuating toggle 72 is mounted on the housing structure 68 of interrupter unit 40 and is operable to reciprocate connector member 66 in response to movement of any one of the blades 53 and associated blade contacts into the open and closed positions thereof. To this end, and referring to FIG. 1 it can be seen that a pair of elongated, downwardly opening channel members 94 and 96 are secured to the outer, circumferentially extending Wall of housing 68 in radially projecting relationship therefrom and located approximately 120 apart with reference to the vertical axis through unit 40. Although three main switches 28, 30 and 32 are provided, only two operating mechanisms for toggle 72 are required as will be explained hereinafter. A generally U-shaped, downwardly opening sleet and rain housing 98 is mounted on the outer extremities of respective channel members 94 and 96 as is best shown in FIG. 2, with the opposed side walls 100 of each housing serving as means for mounting a horizontal pin 102 which swingably carries an elongated actuating member 104 in depending relationship therefrom. An elongated connector rod 106 extending longitudinally of each channel member 94 has a turnbuckle adjustment assembly 108 interposed therein, and is pivotally joined to the upper extremity of a corresponding operating member 104 by a connector link 110.

A spring 112 within each housing 98 is connected to a corresponding link and to the rear wall 114 of each housing 98 for biasing the lower extremity of each operating member 104 toward the lowermost portion of unit 40. Returning to FIG. 3, it is to be noted that the connector rod 106 within channel member 94 is connected to the outer extremity of bell crank 82 adjacent lever 78, by a link 116, while the connector rod 106 within channel member 96 is pivotally joined to the opposite end of hell crank 82 through the medium of a short link 118. Shifting of connector rods 106 in response to pivoting of corresponding operating members 104 thereby pivots bell crank 82 in a direction to effect reciprocation of connector member 66.

Each of the operating members 104 is provided with a hooked component on the lower extremity thereof provided with an outer hook section 122 which is within the path of travel of an electrically conductive operating ar-m assembly 124 associated with respective members 104 and connected to each of the blades 53 for movement therewith. The toggle mechanism 72, connector r-ods 106, operating members 104 and assemblies 124 thereby cooperate to form the auxiliary switches which are designated by the numerals 34, 36 and 38 in the schematic wiring diagram of FIG. 8. In view of the fact that the assemblies 124 mounted on blades 53 of switches 28 and 30 are both positioned to operate the operating member 104, it can now be seen that only two members 104 and associated mechanisms connected thereto, are operable to actuate toggle mechanism 72 in response to opening of respective main switches. Since the assemblies 124 are of identical construction, difiering only in the disposition of the same relative to corresponding mounting blades 53 therefor, only one of the assemblies 124 has been shown in detail in FIGS. 6 and 7, and it is to be understood that similar parts in the assemblies on all of the arms 53 are indicated by identical numerals. Thus, referring specifically to FIGS. 6 and 7, each assembly 124 is provided with a bracket 126 having a pair of leg section 128 and 130 on the lower extremity thereof which are configured to complementally engage the tubular blade 53 of each main switch, with bolt means 131 extending through opposed aligned openings 132 in legs 128 and 130 operating to eifectively clamp bracket 126 to the corresponding blade 53. The upper shroud portion 134 of bracket 126 defines a hollow, outwardly opening compartment 136 which receives an elongated pivot pin 138 located in spanning relationship to compartment 136 and carried by the side walls 140 of shroud 134. Mounting block 142 carried by pivot pin 138 intermediate the ends thereof, serves as means for mounting an elongated operating arm 144 of bent longitudinal configuration as is apparent from FIG. 1. Coil springs 146 over pin 138 on opposite sides of block 142, have opposed legs which engage the horizontal edge 148 of shroud 134, and the downwardly tuned lips 150 of mounting block 142, for normally biasing arm 144 in a counterclockwise direction viewing FIG. 7. Means for limiting the extent of counterclockwise rotation of the mounting block 142 about pin 138 as shown in FIG. 6, comprises a bolt 152 threaded through the upper wall of shroud 134 into selective engagement with mounting block 142. Nut 154 threaded over bolt 152 above shroud 134 releasably maintains the bolt in selected 'vertical disposition for manual adjustment of the disposition of operating arm 144 relative to bracket 126.

As is apparent from FIG. 1, the arm assemblies 124 are mounted on the blades 53 of switches 28 and 30 respectively, so that the arms 144 extend toward each other into overlapping relationship and in disposition such that the outer extremities of arms 144 are located to contact the hook section 122 of the operating member 104 carried by channel member 94. During swinging movement of a blade 53, the corresponding arm 144 thereon engages the hooked component 120 of an adjacent operating member 104 to pivot the latter'about the axis of a mounting pin 102 therefor until the arm 144 clears the hook section 122 of a corresponding component 120, permitting the member 104 which has been swung out of the normal position thereof to return to the initial disposition of the same as illustrated in FIG. 2. During such outward swinging movement of the operating member 104, the hook section 122 of the component 120 thereon is maintained in proper engagement with the respective operating arm 144, by doughnut rings 156 on arms 144.

Arcing horns are also provided on the contact elements of each of the main switches 28, 30 and 32, as is best evident from FIG. 2. It can be seen that a rod 158 carried by bracket 126 below the arm 53 of main switch 28, is disposed to normally engage a generally U-shaped rod or arcing horn 160 carried by the rotatable jaw hinge contact of main switch 28. The disposition of the arching horns presented by rods 158 and 160 is such that the main blade and jaw hinge of each main switch move out of electrical interengagement, prior to the coupling of normally interengaged arcing horns 158 and 160. The operation of horns of this type is fully explained in US. Patent No. 3,070,680 and application Serial No. 241,745.

Operation Assuming that all of the operating components of switchgear 20 are in the normal stand-by positions of the same as illustrated in FIG. 1, and with the electrical circuit thereby being in the condition illustrated schematically in FIG. 8, sectionalizing of the power transmission lines, or opening of the circuit to all the lines may be accomplished by simple opening of one or more of the main switches 28, 30 and 32 in any desired sequence. Since the opening of one main switch proceeds in the same fashion as the opening of all of the remaining switches, only one operational procedure will be described in detail although it is to be understood that the other switches open in a similar manner.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is to be understood that if it is desired that switch 30 be opened to interrupt the current between lines 22 and 24 as previously described, the operator simply manually shifts mechanism extending longitudinally of the support pole as mentioned above, to thereby effect pivoting of crank 50 about the longitudinal axis of the shaft through insulator structure 48. As the blade 53 of main switch 30 commences to move in a counterclockwise direction viewing FIG. 1, the main jaw hinge contact 54 of the main switch also commences movement in a clockwise direction by virtue of engagement of the hinge clamps with the main blade contact 52 of switch 30. During swinging movement of jaw hinge contact 54 and main blade contact 52, the arcing horns 158 and 160 of main switch 30 remain in electrical contact to preclude arcing between the adjacent extremities of hinge jaw 54 and main blade contact 52 as soon as the same move out of contacting relationship.

Very shortly after commencement of swinging of the blade 53, the arm 144 of the assembly 124 mounted on the blade 53 of main switch 30, moves into engagement with the hook section 122 of component 120 on operating member 104 depending from channel member 94. As the blade 53 continues to swing in a counterclockwise direction, the operating member 104 is swung outwardly away from unit 40 and with the operating arm 144 being depressed against the bias of springs 146 as arm 144 is retained beneath the hook section 122 of component 120.

Swinging of operating member 104 causes the connector rod 106 coupled thereto to be reciprocated in a direction away from the structure supporting unit 40, whereby link 116 is shifted toward the circumferentially extending wall of housing 68 in a direction to effect rotation of hell crank 82 in a clockwise direction viewing FIG. 3. In this manner, lever 78 is shifted in a direction to operate toggle mechanism 72 and eventually permit springs 92 to move connector member 66 upwardly through a sufli cient path to effect disengagement of the movable contacts of all of the vacuum-break switches 60, 62 and 64, from respective stationary contacts therewithin.

Returning to the operating member 104 which has been shifted by the arm 144 in engagement with the .hooked component 12h thereon, it can be seen in FIG. 2

that the arm 144 will remain in engagement with the component until after member 104 has reached the lowermost end of its path of travel and then commences upward movement while still swinging away from the adjacent jaw hinge contact 54. When the operating member 104 reaches a certain point in the upward path of SWinging movement thereof, it becomes disengaged from arm 144 whereby the operating member 104 is permitted to return to the initial location of the same as illustrated in FIG. 2. The operating arm 144 under the bias of springs 146 returns to the stand-by disposition of the same as illustrated in FIG. 7, although the assembly 124 continues to move outwardly untilthe blade 53 reaches the outermost end of its path of travel through an arc of an extent indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 1 by the dashed line position of blade 53 of main switch 28.

It is to be understood however that during the outward movement of operating member 104, and consequent shifting of the connector rod 106 coupled thereto, the toggle mechanism 72 operates to effect opening of the contacts of the vacuum-break switches 60, 62 and 64, but only after the main blade contact 52 of the main switch being opened, has moved out of restrike range of the hinge jaw contact 54. Thus, return of the operating member 104 to the initial disposition of the same under the influence of the spring 112 connected thereto, efiects reclosing of the contacts of the vacuum-break switches 60, 62 and 64, although this does not result in reclosing of the main circuit because the main switch blade contact 52 of the main switch 30 has been moved out of restrike range from the associated hinge jaw contact 54. In this respect, it is believed to be obvious that the trunbuckle 108 in each connector rod 106 permits selective adjustment of the point durin the swinging movement of a corresponding operating member 104, when toggle mechanism 72 is actuated to open the contacts of the interrupter unit 40.

The pivotal mounting of operating arms 144 on brackets 126 is also of importance, because of the fact that upon return of the blade 53 which has been shifted, to the original position of the same wherein the blade contact 52 reengages the associated hinge jaw 54, the corresponding arm 144 will shift downwardly against the bias of springs 146 to a position clearing the lower extremity of component 120 of the associated member 164. Furthermore, mounting of the assemblies 124 in disposition so that two operating arms 144 on adjacent main switches face toward each other, necessitates provision of only one operating mechanism therefor operably coupled to the toggle mechanism 72 to effect reciprocation of the connector member 66 coupled thereto.

The housings or hoods 98 carried by the outer extremities of channel members 94 and 96, not only serve to protect the pivotal connections between connector rods 106 and operating members 104, but also improve the appearance of the over-all switchgear.

By virtue of the structure described above for operating the toggle mechanism 72 by opening of the main switch blades 53, actuation of the contacts of the vacuum-break switches 60, 62 and 64 can be delayed until the blade contact 52 of a respective main switch is completely out of restrike range with respect to the associated hinge jaw contact. This is true because of the utilization of a relatively long operating member 104 for each connector rod 106, which requires that the blade 53 be swung through a relatively long are before the connector rod 106 joined to the operating member 104 being swung, has moved a significant distance to eifect rotation of the bell crank 82 operably coupled to the lever 78 of mechanism 72. Mounting of operating members 104 for pivoting movement about axes in generally perpendicular relationship to the axes of pivoting of blades 53, also contributes to more effective control over toggle mechanism 72 to assure movement of main blade contacts 52 out of restrike range with respect to hinge jaws 54.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Switch gear for electrically interconnecting a plurality of electrical power transmission lines comprising:

a frame assembly;

a main switch for each power line, mounted on said frame assembly and each provided with a contact jaw and a rotatable main switch blade adapted to be coupled to a respective power line and movable out of engagement with a corresponding contact jaw by swinging movement about its axis of rotation;

load interrupting switch structure having a pair of spaced terminals and selectively operable means defining an electrically conductive path vtherethrough between said terminals and operable to open and close said conductive path;

conductor means coupling one of the terminals of said switch structure with each of the contact jaws of said main switches;

mechanism remote from the paths of swinging movement of the main switch blades, electrically coupled to the other terminal of the load interrupting switch structure and operable upon actuation thereof to open and close said selectively operable means;

an electrically conductive arm secured to each of the main switch "blades for movement therewith;

elongated members pivotally mounted on the structure adjacent said mechanism for swinging movement about axes in generally perpendicular relationship to the axes of swinging movement of said main switch blades, each of said members having a contact segment remote from the axis of pivoting thereof within the path of travel of one of the arms and normally located in a stand-by position in proximal relationship thereto when the respective main switch is closed, each of said arms on the main switch blades being operable to engage and then swing a corresponding member within the path of travel thereof upon rotation of the associated blade about its axis away from its contact jaw, with each member being located to clear a corresponding arm prior to the main switch blade of a respective main switch completing its path of travel during opening thereof;

means connected to each of the members for returning the same to normal disposition thereof upon release of each member from a respective arm, the arms and corresponding members operated thereby being movable relatively during reclosing of a respective main switch blade to permit the arms and members to reassume the and means coupling the members to said mechanism for actuating the latter to open said selectively operable means in response to shifting of the members by said arms and for closing said selectively operable means upon return of the members to the normal stand-by positions of the same, said mechanism including components for effecting swinging movement of all of the members through said coupling means connected thereto upon engagement of any one of the arms with a corresponding member during opening of a selected main switch blade whereby upon opening of the selected main switch and formation of an auxiliary conductive path through said load interrupting means provided by engagement of the arm on the selected main switch blade with a corresponding member, all of the members are moved out of recovery voltage restrike range from all other parts of opposite polarity during switch operation.

normal stand-by positions thereof;

2. Switch gear as set forth in claim -1 wherein said main switches are located in a common plane and the main switch blades thereof are swingable in said plane, said members being mounted for swinging movement about fixed axes, and the arms on respective main switch blades being shiftable relative to corresponding main switch blades to permit each arm to swing with respect to a respective main switch blade during engagement of the arm with a corresponding member and as the latter is swung by the arm during opening of said selected main switch.

3. Switch gear as set forth in claim 2 wherein said members are provided with hook portions on the extremities thereof engaged by corresponding arms for assuring firm engagement of the arm with a respective member during opening of said selected main switch.

4. Switch gear as set forth in claim 2 wherein is pro-.

vided means biasing each of the arms toward a normal position thereof whereby upon clearance of each of the arms by a corresponding member and after deflection of the arm from said normal position during engagement thereof with a respective member, the biasing means immediately returns the arm to said normal position thereof.

5. Switch gear as set forth in claim 1 wherein said main switches are located in a common plane in surrounding relationship to said load interrupting switch structure and the. main switch blades are swing-able in said plane, said switch structure being located within elongated housing means projecting from the plane of swinging movement of said main switch blades, the axes of pivoting movement of the members being located in remote, laterally spaced relationship to said housing means to permit each of the members to swing through a relatively large arc awayfrom respective main switches.

6. Switch gear as set forth in claim 5 wherein said members are mounted on the structure for swinging movement in planes extending radially from said housing means.

7. Switch gear as set forth in claim 1 wherein said main switches are located in a common plane in surrounding relationship to said load interrupting switch structure, disposed in generally r-adially extending relationship to said switch structure when closed, and positioned for movement of the main switch blades in said plane, said members being located for swinging movement in planes extending radially from said switch structure and bisecting respective angles defined by adjacent closed m-ain switches.

8. Switch gear as set forth in claim- 7 wherein said members are mounted for pivoting movement about axes lying in a common plane and parallel with the plane through said main switches.

9. Switch gear as set forth in claim 7 wherein said arms on each of the main switch blades are located in disposition in generally perpendicular relationship to an adjacent member when the respective main switch is closed.

10. Switch gear as set forth in claim 7 wherein one member is provided for a pair of adjacent main switch blades and disposed to be swung by the arms on either of said pair of main switch blades during opening thereof.

11. Switch gear as set forth in claim 7 wherein said mechanism includes a toggle unit and crank means for operating the toggle unit, said coupling means each comprising an elongated component operably coupled to said crank means and to a respective member in spaced relationship from the axis of pivoting thereof for translating the arcuate motion of a corresponding member to reciprocatory motion for actuating the toggle unit through said crank means.

12. Switch gear as set forth in claim 11 wherein each of said components includes adjust-able means for varying the effective length of each component and thereby the I 1 1 2 extent of rotation of the crank means by corresponding 2,955,181 10/ 1960 Luehring a 200-146- components and the members connected thereto. 3,070,680 12/ 1962 M Brid -at a1. 2()O 146 13. Switch gear as set forth in claim 12 wherein said adjustable meanstcomprises a turnbuckle KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY, Primary Examiner.

5 References Cited by the Examiner ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENTS W. C. GARVERT, Assistant Examiner.

2,834,856 5/1958 Charewicz et a1. 200-146 X 

1. SWITCH GEAR FOR ELECTRICALLY INTERCONNECTING A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICAL POWER TRANSMISSION LINES COMPRISING: A FRAME ASSEMBLY; A MAIN SWITCH FOR EACH POWER LINE, MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME ASSEMBLY AND EACH PROVIDED WITH A CONTACT JAW AND A ROTATABLE MAIN SWITCH BLADE ADAPTED TO BE COUPLED TO A RESPECTIVE POWER LINE AND MOVABLE OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH A CORRESPONDING CONTACT JAW BY SWINGING MOVEMENT ABOUT ITS AXIS OF ROTATION; LOAD INTERRUPTING SWITCH STRUCTURE HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED TERMINALS AND SELECTIVELY OPERABLY MEANS DEFINING AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE PATH THERETHROUGH BETWEEN SAID TERMINALS AND OPERABLE TO OPEN AND CLOSE SAID CONDUCTIVE PATH; CONDUCTOR MEANS COUPLING ONE OF THE TERMINALS OF SAID SWITCH STRUCTURE WITH EACH OF THE CONTACT JAWS OF SAID MAIN SWITCHES; MECHANISM REMOTE FROM THE PATHS OF SWINGING MOVEMENT OF THE MAIN SWITCH BLADES, ELECTRICALLY COUPLED TO THE OTHER TERMINAL OF THE LOAD INTERRUPTING SWITCH STRUCTURE AND OPERABLE UPON ACTUATION THEREOF TO OPEN AND CLOSE SAID SELECTIVELY OPERABLE MEANS; AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE ARM SECURED TO EACH OF THE MAIN SWITCH BLADES FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH; ELONGATED MEMBERS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE STRUCTURE ADJACENT SAID MECHANISM FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT ABOUT AXES IN GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR RELATIONSHIP TO THE AXES OF SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID MAIN SWITCH BLADES, EACH OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING A CONTACT SEGMENT REMOTE FROM THE AXIS OF PIVOTING THEREOF WITHIN THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF ONE OF THE ARMS AND NORMALLY LOCATED IN A STAND-BY POSITION IN PROXIMAL RELATIONSHIP THERETO WHEN THE RESPECTIVE MAIN SWITCH IS CLOSED, EACH OF SAID ARMS ON THE MAIN SWITCH BLADES BEING OPERABLE TO ENGAGE AND THEN SWING A CORRESPONDING MEMBER WITHIN THE PATH OF TRAVEL THEREOF UPON ROTATION OF THE ASSOCIATED BLADE ABOUT ITS AXIS AWAY FROM ITS CONTACT JAW, WITH EACH MEMBER BEING LOCATED TO CLEAR A CORRESPONDING ARM PRIOR TO THE MAIN SWITCH BLADE OF A RESPECTIVE MAIN SWITCH CONPLETING ITS PATH OF TRAVEL DURING OPENING THEREOF; MEANS CONNECTED TO EACH OF THE MEMBERS FOR RETURNING THE SAME TO NORMAL DISPOSITION THEREOF UPON RELEASE OF EACH MEMBER FROM A RESPECTIVE ARM, THE ARMS AND CORRESPONDING MEMBERS OPERATED THEREBY BEING MOVABLE RELATIVELY DURING RECLOSING OF A RESPECTIVE MAIN SWITCH BLADE TO PERMIT THE ARMS AND MEMBERS TO REASSUME THE NORMAL STAND-BY POSITIONS THEREOF; AND MEANS COUPLING THE MEMBERS TO SAID MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING THE LATTER TO OPEN SAID SELECTIVELY OPERABLE MEANS IN RESPONSE TO SHIFTING OF THE MEMBERS BY SAID ARMS AND FOR CLOSING SAID SELECTIVELY OPERABLE MEANS UPON RETURN OF THE MEMBERS TO THE NORMAL STAND-BY POSITIONS OF THE SAME, SAID MECHANISM INCLUDING COMPONENTS FOR EFFECTING SWINGING MOVEMENT OF ALL OF THE MEMBERS THROUGH SAID COUPLING MEANS CONNECTED THERETO UPON ENGAGEMENT OF ANY ONE OF THE ARMS WITH A CORRESPONDING MEMBER DURING OPENING OF A SELECTED MAIN SWITCH BLADE WHEREBY UPON OPENING OF THE SELECTED MAIN SWITCH AND FORMATION OF AN AUXILIARY CONDUCTIVE PATH THROUGH SAID LOAD INTERRUPTING MEANS PROVIDED BY ENGAGEMENT OF THE ARM ON THE SELECTED MAIN SWITCH BLADE WITH A CORRESPONDING MEMBER, ALL OF THE MEMBERS ARE MOVED OUT OF RECOVERY VOLTAGE RESTRIKE RANGE FROM ALL OTHER PARTS OF OPPOSITE POLARITY DURING SWITCH OPERATION. 